Patty Griffin: Children Running Through

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Singer/songwriter Patty Griffin enjoys a solid reputation as a leading force on the alternative folk music scene, as well as credibility as a commercial writer with songs recorded by The Dixie Chicks, Martina McBride and other chart-topping pop and country acts. Her introspective and often downbeat material has perhaps limited her success as a mainstream artist, though her skill at conveying complex emotions places her in songwriting's top ranks. On her seventh release, Children Running Through, she opens up the stylistic floodgates and unleashes the power of her typically restrained alto voice. Her artistry loses nothing in the translation, though the mainstream still may not be ready for Griffin's expansive vision, which alternates atmospheric folk and country with one-offs ranging from aggressive acoustic rock, classic soul, and unusually funky fare...